Results: 2 Ways to Lengthen a Half-Circle Skirt

Last weekend, while I was working on the sewingcake site I got the itch to test and compare two ways to lengthen a half-circle skirt.  It was fun to sit down and stitch the two tester skirts.  Both are a lightweight rayon, close to the same weight and drape.  I used a navy and white spotted fabric to mock up Alteration 1 (trace n slide method of lengthening).  I used navy and white stripe for Alteration 2 (simple addition of length at the hem.

I haven’t done much styling or self-photos in the past few months, what skills I have were getting rusty so I set aside a little time to play with my camera and tripod to best show the drape of the skirts.  I played with the contrast and exposure in these photos to help bring out the shape and motion of the fabric.

Of all the photos I took, these two seemed to best show the difference between the two skirt shapes.  Alteration 1 uses slightly less fabric, but the shift in the grain of fabric at the side seam throws off the balance of the drape of the skirt.  Alteration 2 follows a regular half-circle skirt drape, with ripples gently forming in the fabric around the body.

I put a pocket in the mock ups, in case I decided to keep wearing them.  The striped skirt makes the cut (I do have a thing for stripes…) but I may decide to finish the polka dot skirt later.

Brisbane Tiramisu Class

I’m teaching the Tiramisu Knit Dress at Voodoo Rabbit in the Gabba this Saturday the 8th- I still have a spot left, so if you’re reading this and you’d like to come let me know and I’ll set you up!

We have another class on the 15th which also has a spot available.  Let me know if you’d like to come!

Sewingcake.com

The sewingcake.com site is the online home of Cake Patterns.  I can’t have Cake all over the place around here, it attracts ants.  My fridge isn’t big enough.  There’s frosting all over the ceiling.  I can do things on sewingcake.com I can’t do here, and it’s really fun bringing all the elements together.  I’m still releasing pages, playing a little and getting used to the new space but do go and check it out.  I’ve hidden five of eight Pieces of Cake around the site and will be sure to let you know when I’ve hidden the final three.  If you collect all eight Pieces of Cake, you get a code for a free Cake Pattern.  One lucky winner will go fabric shopping with me.  We’ll have fun, even if you’re in Zanzibar.  Take a look.

Once I finish up the last little bits of Tiramisu pages for the site, I’ll be posting regularly again here at 3 Hours Past.  Thanks again for being patient with me, I’m really looking forward to posting about inspiring ruffled 20’s dresses (and what I’m cooking up from that inspiration), the crazy-clarifying and cheap face mask I’ve been using lately, more about color and sergers- basically all the cool stuff we were talking about before Cake work got busy.

Oh- and the Pavlova Wrap Top and Skirt Circus will happen before the end of the month!  Pavlova has been a delight so far from start to finish, and it will be so nice to show her to you!  Last time, I ran the pre-sale for ten days and posted tutorials and experiments nearly every day.  That was fun, but for Pavlova I want to make it shorter- 5 days instead of ten.

Also, do take a look at Kate from Two Little Banshees’ black knit post-baby Tiramisu!  I think it looks great on her, and I completely understand wanting to wear it all the time! Up to now you’ve only seen the Tira on me, so go check it out on Kate!

I miss you!